Tiger Reintroduction Program Launched in Buxa Tiger Reserve

On October 2, 2026, the first tigress was released in West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve under a tiger reintroduction program. This marks a significant step toward restoring a viable and self-sustaining tiger population in Buxa.

Key Facts

Tigress Relocation: The tigress was brought to Buxa from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar. Her movements will be monitored using telemetry, camera traps, and ground tracking.
Buxa Tiger Reserve: Buxa was declared a tiger reserve in 1983. It forms part of a crucial ecological landscape in North Bengal connected to the forests of Bhutan and Assam.
Ecological Restoration: Habitat restoration, prey-base enrichment, conservation, and scientific monitoring efforts have been underway since 2018. Over 800 chital (spotted deer) were released and nearly 380 hectares of grassland were restored.
Natural Movement: Camera traps recorded tigers in 2021, 2023, and 2026. A tiger captured in 2023 was identified as one from Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam, demonstrating natural movement corridors.
Phased Program: Further tiger reintroductions will be carried out in a phased manner based on habitat conditions, prey base, conservation security, population viability, and monitoring outcomes.
Community Participation: The program involves 64 Eco-Development Committees/Joint Forest Management Committees, emphasizing livelihoods, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and conservation-based benefits.